Newtosavage
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Great minds think alike. I was asking this question in my own head just the other day. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Loading gates and tubes
- Thread starter somethingbenign
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All gate loads for me (well except for my Win 9422). For all the reason's mentioned above, the only advantage I see in a tube fed is easy unloading. But I'm getting more and more particular as I get older, and find more satisfaction in having a firearm that fits just what I want, and sometimes the reason is....just because.
Ks5shooter
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Henry? Henry? are you listening?
When it came down to it,I paid the extra coin for a Miroku 1873 357M over a Henry because of the loading gate. Just a personal preference,nothing wrong with either method or Henry lever rifles in any way. I think they are well made rifles.
I think henry makes some of the best fitting and finished rifles in this class out there.....and I would not mind the flavor that looks like the original HENRY...no wood, follower hits your fingers, your hand will burn if you run the gun fast....but I like that kind of thing....but then I also load black powder for my trapdoor.
It is just with the "modern" lever gun (whatever that is) a loading gate is really the way it should go....if it was not a better system all guns after the henry would not have had the gate.....why did we go to the gate if it is not a better system.....and it is not a "combat" thing....tell me one country that adopted a lever rifle as a military arm....and don't tell me Turkey....pick another....and if you say the Ottomans I will come across the interwebs and smack you upside the head (joke)
It is just flat a better system.....that does not mean the other system can not be fun as well....99.9% of us use these guns for fun so really if you are enjoying yourself with it that is all that matters, loading on a horse is not really applicable to most of us, loading on the move most of us can't really do....but it is really fun to do a run and gun type game with a lever gun....and actually it is pretty darn safe...the gun is dry, loading on the fly is just kinda fun....i suggest you all give it a try somethime....really fun and different from you AR and stuff like that.
I did one with the lever rifle and a single action...I came in dead last but I bet I had the most fun....they even said...that looks like it would be fun, we should look into a class for that....it was a local club game not very big or formal, but it was just a hoot.
It is just with the "modern" lever gun (whatever that is) a loading gate is really the way it should go....if it was not a better system all guns after the henry would not have had the gate.....why did we go to the gate if it is not a better system.....and it is not a "combat" thing....tell me one country that adopted a lever rifle as a military arm....and don't tell me Turkey....pick another....and if you say the Ottomans I will come across the interwebs and smack you upside the head (joke)
It is just flat a better system.....that does not mean the other system can not be fun as well....99.9% of us use these guns for fun so really if you are enjoying yourself with it that is all that matters, loading on a horse is not really applicable to most of us, loading on the move most of us can't really do....but it is really fun to do a run and gun type game with a lever gun....and actually it is pretty darn safe...the gun is dry, loading on the fly is just kinda fun....i suggest you all give it a try somethime....really fun and different from you AR and stuff like that.
I did one with the lever rifle and a single action...I came in dead last but I bet I had the most fun....they even said...that looks like it would be fun, we should look into a class for that....it was a local club game not very big or formal, but it was just a hoot.
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somethingbenign
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This is actually exactly why I want a gate so much, to simultaneously get my butt kicked but also be the envy of every competitor just because of the giggles. I don't know if I'd do it with a SA but I think a SP 101 would still fit the mood. On that note I need to see if my local range will let me run pins with a mare's leg.
Jason_W
Member
Henry rifles seem well made enough that the lack of a loading gate wouldn’t scare me off. Having the option to unload via the tube would actually be welcome in a hunting gun.
As for the ability to top off quickly, I could see it if the gun was primarily a personal defense tool (though all the loading gates I’ve ever used were stiff and sharp and I question how quickly a top off could actually be done under stress).
As for the ability to top off quickly, I could see it if the gun was primarily a personal defense tool (though all the loading gates I’ve ever used were stiff and sharp and I question how quickly a top off could actually be done under stress).
mcb
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I have never given a Henry a serious look due to the lack of loading gate. The gate is important to me and I buy accordingly. YMMV.
Tommygunn
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The Russians bought some 1895 Winchester's for military use. I can't say I know they were actually USED in any battle .... I can say they did not have any Kings side loading gate.
The Russians bought some 1895 Winchester's for military use. I can't say I know they were actually USED in any battle .... I can say they did not have any Kings side loading gate.
They bought anything that would shoot.....perhaps I should say Primary. The remington model 8 was used by the french...so is it the first autoloading combat rifle....not in my book.
And yes they did get used in battle....and they actually where liked. I want to say C&R did a video on them...I want to say some of the pistol flavors of lever winchesters got bought up by the royal navy also in WWI....yea they got used, but not the spirit of my comment on use.
Any time you use a tube feed instead of a loading gate it is a sign of weakness.
So I guess I would load the tube in the house & use the gate on the firing line.
A double option would mean more stuff to break down but if I had the option for real,
I would full load the tube to start then top off with the gate.
I own both versions & either will do but I wouldn't want a double option.
So I guess I would load the tube in the house & use the gate on the firing line.
A double option would mean more stuff to break down but if I had the option for real,
I would full load the tube to start then top off with the gate.
I own both versions & either will do but I wouldn't want a double option.
I like the loading gate. To me tube loading is a cheap step backward. I just like the way it works, always have, it's a cool feature.. I also like looking down into the gate and seeing there is another round in the pipe ready to go...
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Speedo66
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Rossi did it on one of their models and sold all they made. Even used they command a good price and are highly desired.
A little like the spencer tubes they had.
History on this type of rifle is long there and established.....and it has shown us what system won out....it was not the butt stock loading on the spencer, it was not the tube on the original henry.....it was the gate...then pointy bullets gave us a magazine under the rifle. The best system won for a host of reasons.
It is only those that bought the current production henry that need to justify their rifle....henry is cheap and will not machine the extra step....I highly doubt anyone owns that tech any longer....so no money should be paid to put it on the side of your rifle...henry is just lazy.
I have the Rossi 454 Casull that has both the tube load and loading gate. I usually use the gate for loading because I like the feeling of it. I only ever unscrew the tube to unload without cycling everything through the gun. In fact, the unscrewing part is what I hate most about the gun. If it was a quick 1/8th turn setup like the Henry, I might use it more often. The threads are very fine (and sort of flimsy feeling) and I’m afraid I may wear them out with too much use use.
The Russians bought some 1895 Winchester's for military use. I can't say I know they were actually USED in any battle .... I can say they did not have any Kings side loading gate.
You bet your bippy the Russians issued the things. They were so short of Mosin Nagants they had to order rifles from the United States.
Incidentally, Americans carried American made Mosin Nagants when the US invaded the Russian port of Vladivostok.
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Most people seem to talk about how it's such a big advantage to 'top up' through the loading gate.
A Big Boy holds ten rounds... what's so important about being able to easily 'top up' during plinking or hunting? Most people aren't buying Henry Big Boys for combat or defense. And I don't see what's important about quickly 'topping up' the tube while you're in the middle of firing a group, or after shooting one of your ten rounds at a deer.
It's another option and it has its own advantages as well.
A Big Boy holds ten rounds... what's so important about being able to easily 'top up' during plinking or hunting? Most people aren't buying Henry Big Boys for combat or defense. And I don't see what's important about quickly 'topping up' the tube while you're in the middle of firing a group, or after shooting one of your ten rounds at a deer.
It's another option and it has its own advantages as well.
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